How to ruin the original

Episode 5

“Because you’re Nigel,” Allen said as if it were obvious.

“You just said it yourself, that I have a good intuition. I just felt good about you from the moment I met you. And now, it’s even better.”

Allen chuckled, folding his green eyes.

“Are you trying to play games with me…?”

“You need to trust your intuition a bit more. Do I seem like the kind of person who would play games with someone I just met? My feelings are just pure friendship, without a hint of anything else!”

“Alright, it’s just a one-night friendship. We’ll part ways by tomorrow morning.”

“Ugh, so unromantic. My intuition tells me that we are destined to be lifelong friends. Just wait and see.”

“Sure, sure.”

Nigel replied dryly and picked up the book he was reading earlier.

The silver train ticket tucked deep into his pocket had long been forgotten.

“By the way, it’s really nice that you’ve made such a great friend, young master. Your parents will be very pleased.”

Sebastian looked between Nigel and Allen, a contented smile on his face.

“Friend…?”

Not really. Nigel couldn’t bring himself to correct Sebastian’s warm gaze.

“Of course! I’m sure my parents will be even happier than when I got accepted to Siania?”

A crucial word flashed through Nigel’s mind for a moment.

“…Siania?”

“Yeah. We’re going to the capital for the Siania pre-festival party next week.”

Allen pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket and unfolded it.

Familiar letterhead. It was undoubtedly an admission ticket to Siania.

“Magic… Academy?”

Allen nodded vigorously.

“I’m quite interested in the magical field. I think learning it will be helpful in many ways in the future.”

…Is this really fate?

“…Nigel? Your complexion doesn’t look good. Suddenly feeling unwell?”

Allen stood up abruptly, moving around frantically to check on Nigel.

“No, it’s just…”

Nigel sighed deeply and took out a stiff piece of paper from his pocket, placing it on the table.

Whether he was caught now or next week…

Allen’s mouth gradually widened as he unfolded the paper.

“Oh my…!”

Suddenly, he covered his mouth with his hands as if to conceal the secrets of the world.

“…As I said, we’ll be seeing each other for a long time. Meeting and becoming close friends on the same train for such a short time, and even attending the same academy, and in the same department…?”

Without giving Nigel a chance to respond, Allen continued talking.

“If this isn’t fate, Nigel! What is it?”

Grabbing Nigel’s shoulders, Allen shook him roughly back and forth.

“It must be fate, Nigel! There’s no doubt about it.”

Allen let go of Nigel’s shoulders and clasped his hands together, looking reverently at the sun outside the window.

“What goddess is it?”

“Stay still. Nigel, have you decided on accommodation in the capital? Oh, want to go shopping for supplies together? I know a lot of good places…”

“Master Allen.”

Interrupting Allen’s rapid and loud speech, Sebastian called out to him with a short address.

“It’s understandable to be pleased, but you shouldn’t burden your friend.”

Nigel was too tired to even correct Sebastian that they weren’t friends anymore.

“Sorry, I’m just too happy.”

Still, Nigel didn’t mind Allen’s candidness in everything.

“…So, until tomorrow, let’s talk slowly.”

“Got it!”

The train roared powerfully towards the capital.

***

“Are you really not coming with me?”

In front of the central station of Sollef, Allen hadn’t boarded the carriage for 30 minutes.

“I’ll give you a ride at least near where you’re going, even if it’s heavy.”

“It’s okay, you’re saying that.”

“No, I’m not okay.”

From getting off the train to getting out of the station, Allen and Sebastian missed Nigel five times.

On the last occasion, Allen and Sebastian, who looked lost, grabbed Nigel by the arms and led him like a prisoner.

“…There were too many people in the station, so I couldn’t see well. It’s okay outside.”

“Hmm…”

Allen’s face still showed suspicion.

“Really. You should go now too. Your family is waiting.”

“…Are you sure you memorized my communication seat number? If anything happens, go to the nearest communication office. I’ll help you anytime.”

“Got it.”

Nigel said, rubbing his dark circles under his eyes.

Last night, because of Allen’s incessant chatter, Nigel had even dreamed that Allen appeared and annoyed him.

Although Nigel didn’t dislike Allen, he didn’t want to see him for a while.

“Okay, then see you at the party next week. It’s okay to see you earlier.”

“Yeah, got it. Now please go.”

Nigel waved his hand.

As if wishing Allen to go as well, when the carriage door closed, the carriage departed quickly.

Nigel felt relieved as he watched the shrinking carriage.

“Now let’s go.”

That’s when someone tapped Nigel’s shoulder from behind.

Turning around, Nigel confirmed the identity of the person.

‘…Again?’

It was none other than the boy Nigel had met twice yesterday, once at the train station and once in front of the train.

While Nigel and Allen, who met for the first time, were destined to see each other for a long time, Nigel doubted there would be such a strong fate with this boy, whom he had met three times.

“What do you need?”

Nigel said, folding his arms.

“Ah, actually, I picked this up yesterday.”

He smiled, taking out a handkerchief with a round bulge from his pocket.

When he unfolded the handkerchief, Nigel’s rocket appeared.

“I saw you drop something that looked important, so I was going to give it to you right away, but the timing was a bit off, we…”

Ah, like this.

It seemed that his old suitcase, which had been cracking open despite being locked, had caused trouble again.

“Oh, thank you.”

Nigel sincerely thanked the boy and tucked the rocket into the inner pocket of his coat.

It was entirely Nigel’s fault for suspecting him as a swindler, but Nigel’s discomfort still lingered.

‘I’ve never been wrong about my instincts… What is this feeling?’

Whenever he looked at him, an unfamiliar discomfort crept up on him.

‘…Oh well. It’s just a one-time meeting.’

Nigel quickly brushed off his fatigue from the train ride, which had accumulated over the past two days and caused nightmares last night.

Nigel, with just a change of clothes, collapsed on the bed without any further thought.

***

When he opened his eyes, the room was still dark.

He probably fell asleep without even having lunch and only slept until dawn.

Nigel lit the candle and sat down at the desk, taking out a piece of paper and an envelope from his bag.

‘There shouldn’t be any problems…’

It hadn’t even been a week since he left the orphanage, but worries had already taken over.

Still, he had prepared the check, so the orphanage wouldn’t have to worry about money for a while.

The children and Ron and Handel would probably use the money to buy the leather ball they wanted to sing about first, and the old booklet they had read